Q: When do Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation payments for lost wages start?

A:

Work-related injuries and illnesses are very common. So much so that most Pennsylvania workers will suffer a work-related injury or illness at some point in their career. In fact, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation reports that 85,560 workers lost work time due to injuries and occupational illness in 2010. When a worker is unable to work due to a serious injury or occupational illness, serious financial hardships generally follow.

A totally disabled worker is eligible to receive an income loss benefitto make up for missed wages. The benefit is equal to two-thirds of the pre-injury average weekly wage up to a maximum amount, which is the state average weekly wage. Benefit payments are payable on the eighth day following a work-related injury or illness. If you report your work-related injury right away, miss more than seven days of work, and your employer’s insurance carrier accepts your claim, you should receive payment within 21 days from the date of your injury. Once you have been off work for 14 days, you will receive a retroactive payment for the first seven days of your disability.

In a perfect world, all injured workers in Pennsylvania would receive their workers’ compensation disability payment within 21 days. At Schmidt Kramer, we have experience obtaining the benefits owed to individuals whose workers’ compensation claim has previously been denied. The appeals process for a denied claim is complicated and you will need help. If your workers’ compensation claim has been denied, contact a Lancaster workers’ compensation attorney today at 888-476-0807. We will provide you with a no-obligation case review. You can also download a free copy of our book Who Pays the Bills When You Are Injured at Work? for additional information.

Recent Results click below to expand

Gerry Kramer won a personal injury action for $10,043,952.13 in Northumberland County on behalf of a volunteer firefighter who was the victim of Intentional Tort. The 50-year-old volunteer firefighter was seriously injured when a barn collapsed, causing a spinal injury which left him a paraplegic. The claim was brought against the arsonist who intentionally started the fire. It is believed that the verdict is the highest ever in Northumberland County.

A couple from New Berlin, Pennsylvania was awarded over $4,000,000 because the husband was shot while turkey hunting. The 51 year old client lost his sight because a convicted felon - who should not have even possessed a gun - went hunting illegally, and broke with impunity the most fundamental rule in hunting: identify your target before you pull the trigger.

Scott Cooper obtained a verdict on behalf of his client who is the widow of a man who died in a crash on Interstate 78 in Lebanon County. The awarded verdict of $2.2 million was in a nonjury proceeding before a federal judge in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. That verdict includes $100,000 in punitive damages assessed against the owner of the trucking company.

Scott Cooper settled a wrongful death case on behalf of the widow of a police office who was killed in a car accident in the line of duty for $1,024,040.80. The claim against the other driver was amicably resolved before suit was filed for the entire available policy limits for the other driver. The case took place in Adams County, PA.

Gerry Kramer won a $950,000.00 suit in Perry County for a motor vehicle accident. The personal injury action for a wrongful death was filed on behalf of a 19-year-old female killed in the accident. The victim was a passenger in a vehicle that left the roadway striking a fixed object.

Scott Cooper settled a wrongful death claim for $742,000 on behalf of a the estate of a trash worker killed in a car accident in Franklin County. The case was amicably resolved for all of the available insurance policy coverage for the other driver and under insured motorist carrier. Also, Mr. Cooper was able to amicably resolved all subrogation interests with the worker's compensation carrier for a lump sum and agreement for the subrogation claim to be waived in full.

Gerry Kramer won a $215,000.00 personal injury action on behalf of a drunk driving victim in York County. The victim was a 56-year-old man who was struck by drunk driver in Lancaster County, PA. He suffered a subdural hematoma which resulted in severe headaches.